"There are other sheep which belong to me that are not in this sheep pen. I must bring them, too; they will listen to my voice and they will become one flock with one shepherd", (Jn. 10:16).

Exclusiveness is one of the most common traits in us. It makes us selfish and destroys the beauty of relationship and unity. As Christians we are asked to be open and loving towards all. Yet there are many times when we exclude others from our conversation, from our friendship, from sharing etc. Experience tells us that it is one of the hardest things to unlearn! Once we get the idea that we are specially privileged or different from other people, it is very difficult to realize that the privileges which we believe belong to us and to us only are in fact open to all.

In the first reading, we see how Peter convinced the critical Jews that God gave others the same gift that He gave them when they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. God does not exclude anyone from knowing and accepting Jesus. In fact, it is only in Jesus that all can become one. We know that there is division between nation and nation; within the nation there is the division between race and race and class and class. The only thing which can cross the barriers and wipe out the distinctions is the Gospel of Jesus Christ telling all of the universal fatherhood/motherhood of God.